The City under the Black Mountain 1912

Joseph Pennell made this print called ‘The City under the Black Mountain’ using lithographic crayon and ink. Look at how the image emerges out of a sea of tiny marks! Pennell’s built up this grand landscape from small scribbles and lines, a kind of pointillist approach to depicting monumental forms. Each mark feels both precise and tentative, contributing to the overall texture. The paper isn't just a background, it feels active. The black mountain dominates. Notice how the shadow spreads across the scene, obscuring details and creating a sense of mystery. Then, your eye is drawn to the sunlit city, a beacon of hope amidst the looming darkness. Those thin lines, together, give off an almost ethereal glow. It is as if Pennell is reminding us that even in the face of the sublime, there is always a human element, a human scale. The process of seeing becomes a kind of translation. It's interesting to consider this alongside the work of someone like Whistler, another master of tone. Both artists were interested in creating a mood, an atmosphere.